Two legislative efforts would benefit HME providers and their patients in Virginia by increasing reimbursement for Medicaid claims and broadening access to complex rehab equipment.
First, Senator Siobhan Dunnavant and Delegate Emily Brewer submitted budget legislation amendments in the Senate and House of Delegates that would set reimbursement rates for Medicaid at 100 percent of the Medicare rural rate in the state. Currently, Virginia pays either 90 percent of Medicare non-rural rates or competitive bidding rates, whichever is lowest.
Second, a budget amendment introduced by Delegate Dawn Adams would authorize Medicaid coverage of CRT wheelchairs for patients residing in a nursing facility. Virginian mobility stakeholders and the Virginia chapter of the United Spinal Association are working to support the amendment.
The Atlantic Coast Medical Equipment Services Association (ACMESA) and the American Association for Homecare are working with HME leaders in Virginia to support the two measures.
“The Virginia legislative session could conclude in late February, so we’re on a tight timeline to build support for these amendments,” noted David Chandler, senior director of Payer Relations for AAHomecare. “Fortunately, stakeholders in the state have laid the groundwork by making a strong case on the benefits for patients and for the value of homecare in reducing the need for hospitalizations and other high-cost clinical interventions.
“Now we need every HME advocate in Virginia to reinforce these messages by contacting their Senators and Delegates in the General Assembly,” he added.
To help Virginia HME stakeholders email their Senators and Delegates on both legislative initiatives, AAHomecare has created pre-drafted messages that can be edited to let providers add their own experiences:
Providers in Old Dominion can find their state Senators and Delegates using the Virginia General Assembly’s Who’s My Legislator tool.
